Untitled From Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette Wisconsin, publ. 1901- page 872-873

WASHINGTON F. SELLECK. Among the brave men who devoted the opening years of their manhood to the defense of our country from the internal foes who sought her dismemberment was this gentleman, now a prominent resident of Millville township, Grant county.

Mr. SELLECK was born in Canada in 1842, a son of George J. and Zoa SELLECK, who emigrated from Canada and settled at Waukesha, Wis. several years before Wisconsin became a State. A few years later they located in Wyalusing township, Grant county, and later moved to Ellenboro township. The mother died many years ago, and the father, who long survived her, passed away at the home of his son Washington F., in Millville township, in 1896. In his family were ten children, and three of the sons served in the Union army during the Civil war, namely: Wellington, now a resident of Hasty, Minn.; George, who lives in Beetown, Grant county; and Washington F. On reaching man's estate the last named married Miss Sarah Jane HUSTON, a daughter of John HUSTON, and to them have been born seven children, three sons and four daughters: May, Louisa, Charles, George, Ethel, Henry and Katy.

Early in the fall of 1862 Mr. SELLECK entered the service of his adopted country as a member of Company M, 4th Missouri Cavalry, which company was organized at Boscobel, Grant Co., Wis., as part of Fremont's bodyguard. The command went to Benton Barracks, St. Louis, where they were drilled, and from there accompanied Fremont on an expedition into Missouri, but, as it is well known, the General was about this time superseded, and the command to which Mr. SELLECK belong joined in the campaign under Gen. Nathaniel Lyon, taking part in the battle of Springfield, where the gallant Lyon fell. Mr. SELLECK fought under Gen. Sigel at Pea Ridge, after which the command was transferred to the 5th Missouri Cavalry, which was consolidated with the 4th and thereafter known as the 4th Missouri Cavalry. It was then in active service in Kentucky, Tennessee and Mississippi, and for six months was stationed at Vicksburg, thence going South. While at Vicksburg Mr. SELLECK performed an important and interesting service, being sent as orderly to the famous stockade at Andersonville for the exchange of prisoners. He had an opportunity of witnessing the horrible condition of the union prisoners at that infamous prison, and also had the satisfaction of assisting to relieve a small portion of them by exchange, he returning with them to Vicksburg. He continued to serve until June, 1865, when he was mustered out at New Orleans, and returned to his home in Grant county, Wis., with a war record of which he may justly be proud. He is highly esteemed as an honorable, upright citizen, and as a gallant soldier in the war for the Union.




This biography generously submitted by Carol Holmbeck